Organizing Dock Lines

[Chester]

So here's what I'm thinking.
Our short dock lines, when attatched to the midship cleats, aren't long enough to foul the propellers. They could be left on the midship cleats and I could mount cleats in the front corners of the cockpit to secure the tail of said dock lines. This way Adrienne could have fore (OK, mid) and aft docklines in hand when she steps onto the dock. The new cleats could be used to hang fenders from as well.
Before I drill any comments are welcome. Or as Grandpappy said, ask twice, drill once.

[thataway]

Some other C Dories have this configuration installed. You can also consider "jam cleats" which are less likely to injure you if you bump into them than a Hershoff horned type of cleat

[Alyssa Jean]

On both my 22 and the 25, I had/have a permanetly connected bow line from the bow center cleat laying down the "walkway" and tied off to the hand hold at the aft cabin. Also have two shorter stern lines attached to the port and starboard aft cleat. Docking, step off the boat with both in hand and you have control of the boat. I single hand the 25 90% of the time.

[Barry Rietz]

Chester,

In order to prevent fouling dock lines and the associated confusion with "fenders" attached thereto, consider using these great little "fender cleats". They mount just below the gunwale with two small screws and allow for quick deployment of fenders. I've spent a half hour attempting to import a "PDF" document with photos of the item but have given up! Therefore I'll attach the document to an Email if you or anyone else interested will contact me at: N9DXC@hotmail.com

[Valkyrie]

We also have 25-footers cleated forward and secured to the handholds in the cockpit. This makes it easy for my wife when we dock. She will untie the line from the handhold, run it through the handhold and step onto the dock with it, giving her basically a mid-ship line to hold until I exit the cabin to help her.

When cruising, we have long docks lines secured to the stern cleats, run forward around the Bimini frame and then coiled and secured to the transom rail, where they are always ready to go.

I singlehand quite a bit when fishing and have permanent docks lines at our dock. To facilitate docking, especially under windy conditions, I have secured a dock line horizontally between two dock risers. I also have a very short spring line cleated to a mid-dock cleat and hanging from a hook screwed into one dock riser. When I come in under adverse conditions and am blown away from the dock, I extend a boat hook through the starboard window, grab the horizontal line and pull Valkyrie to the dock, grab the short spring from the riser and put it on the midships cleat. which I can reach from the helm. It's then easy to get on the dock and secure the permanent dock line.

Nick
"Valkyrie"

[Captains Cat]

We use the jam cleats on the cabin sides just forward of the cockpit. Works great. You could actually put two on each side and have a bow line and the midship line in there. As you said, just make sure they won't reach the props should you drop one in!

Charlie

[Wallkerbay]

I mounted two small chrome cleats aft of the side window and centered. They do come in very handy to cleat my midship as well as a place to tie it off. I can also controll the boat useing that one line. My foreward line I just tie it to the hand hold. I can then use ether one. For fenders, I have a line tied to the top hand holds. I have a tied a snap hook tied to the other end.Then I just clip it to the fender and done, I put eye bolts to hold the snap hooks mounted at the cornres and right at the lip of the top. Works great.Then I just slide it where I need a fender. Neal

[Chester]

I found some cleats with low profile horns and mounted then just foreward of the cockpit coaming box openings. When we got the boat the fenders were tied off to the grab handles at the aft end of the cabin and it works well so they will stay for now.
Thank's for all the replys.

[Sea Angel]

Chester;
I have posted a series of setups I used on Sea Angel that may fit your needs:
http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_albumName=album535&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

I have all my lines (25') set to the cockpit that are fixed to the horn cleats. The lines are color coded to identify which line goes where, though the 1/2" line goes to the bow and all others are 3/8". There are several loose 15' lines tied off in the cockpit on hangers for supplemental use. No need to go forward under normal use. This setup is safer for single handed and heavy WX situations, you stay in the cockpit.

As to keeping the lines out of ther props; don't try to turn in a circle with lines overboard. Keep a clean shipshape vessel that includes finders stored when underway.

Art

[rjmcnabb]

On NoddyBleu, I kept one bow line and one stern line on each side. I tied the ends on each side together (double weavers' knot I think; even if it drags in the water it ain't coming undone, but it is easy to tie/untie.) Lines won't reach the prop, and just throw the excess into the cockpit. Coming alongside a dock, hop over and grab the line anywhere - you have control of both bow and stern. Usually, I used that control to allow me to get the midship line from the open window and tie off the midships breast line first, then tie off bow and stern (and do springlines if required.) Getting that midship line tied off gives a lot of freedom to adjust the other lines.
One thing that I found useful when having trouble getting alongside a dock was a large treble hook connected to a 1/4 inch line. This hook was huge, leadweighted (maybe 4-6 ounces,) and I was told it was a gator snag hook (work for gar I'm sure.) I blunted the hooks and barbs a bit for safety. You can throw that out the cabin window, over a bull rail or the other side of a dock and pull the boat in just like a midships line. It is easier and lighter to throw than a small folding anchor, more secure, and less punishing to your hull if it gives you a whack. Also, it is longer than a boat hook - which is hard to use out the window.
Rod (on San Juan 24 Loligo^2)

[haakebecks]

[Foggy]

Spaghetti Management 101: clip a nylon 'stuff' bag in an out-of-the way spot to keep required lines handy and off the floor.

Aye.

[jerry97230]

We have one of those big aluminum carabinners clipped through the hand rail on the side of the cabin. and just clip the forward spring line into it.Quick and easy.
Jerry C Nile C22

[hardee]

I have a single bow line, runs over a hanger above the nav light, and along the side of the cabin and then is slip tied to the grab rail on the aft cabin wall. The stern line is cleated and laying in the gunnel pocket.

Sidle up to the dock and step off with both lines in hand. The stern line directly from the cleat and the bowline comes of the grab rail with an easy pull and then a flip up to clear the hanger/hook.

Both ends controlled. Both lines long enough to work back or forward as needed.

Easy, simple and effective.

Harvey
SleepyC

[colobear]

We have 4 25ft mooring lines, two bow and two stern. The bow lines run from the front center cleat back on each side to cam cleats just above the gunwale at the aft end of the cabin and then onto small hooks with bungee loops in the cockpit. Stern lines run from the stern cleats into the cockpit and similar hook/bungee arrangements. When approaching the dock we free the lines (there are no knots to untie) on whichever side is next to the dock and lay them on the gunwale. If Patti is with me, I stop the boat by the dock, she steps off with both lines, I then step off and take the bow line. If I am alone I move the stern line forward enough so I can get both lines at once, stop the boat and step off with both lines. We have never had any problem with lines going into the water toward the stern and prefer the longer lines that let us singlehand both lines. I added an additional cleat on both sides just about amidships. I can put a spare line on that and use it as a spring to pull us to the dock if needed.